Red Wings cut down Sabres, win fourth in a row

Buffalo Sabres' Nicolas Deslauriers (44) shot on goal is deflected by Detroit Red Wings' Riley Sheahan (15) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2014, in Detroit. The Red Wings defeated the Sabres 3-2. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

DETROIT - Pavel Datsyuk picked a patsy for his comeback.
The veteran Detroit center returned to the lineup after a long absence, and Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and an assist at Joe Louis Arena on Friday night to lead the Red Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, who in the first period obligingly played like the team with the worst record in the NHL.
Gustav Nyquist, whose showtime goals and 10-game point streak have made him the buzz in and around Hockeytown, was held off the scoresheet.
But it hardly mattered against Buffalo, which is last in the league with 51 points, and has an NHL-low 21 victories. The Wings, who have won four in a row to continue a push for a playoff berth, are 3-0 against the Sabres this season.
“We’re taking care of business,” Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said. “Teams like (Buffalo) are not just going to roll over.”
Detroit led 3-0 after one period on goals by Darren Helm, rookie Tomas Jurco and Alfredsson.
Nicolas Deslauriers, appearing in his 14th NHL game, beat Howard with a shot along the ice, and his first career goal cut the Red Wings’ lead to 3-2 at 6:40 of the third period.
The Sabres, however, could not get a tying goal despite putting pressure on Howard.
“We probably tried to protect the lead too much,” Alfredsson said. “I felt that down the stretch we did a good job.”
Howard made 21 saves, including eight in the third period.
“We got a little bit ahead of ourselves,” Howard said. “We got away from our game plan. But it doesn’t matter what the score is. It’s just about getting the points.”
Then Howard added tongue-in-cheek, “I’m highly disappointed Gus (Nyquist) didn’t score.”
The Red Wings gained two points on Columbus, their closest challenger in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Blue Jackets lost to Chicago on Friday.
The 35-year-old Datsyuk, who missed the previous 16 games with a knee injury, centered a line that included Alfredsson and Justin Abdelkader.
“It was great to have him back,” Alfredsson said.
Datsyuk had missed 30 of the Wings’ previous 34 games. He played 23 shifts and had 17 minutes, 45 seconds of ice time, and had no points, against Buffalo.
Datsyuk has not scored a goal since Dec. 30 against Nashville, but the Red Wings’ playoff prospects like brighter with each victory.
Detroit has 88 points and leads the Eastern Conference wild-card standings.
Detroit is three points ahead of Columbus and four points ahead of Toronto as those three teams have two wild-card spots in their sights.
Alfredsson sat out the Red Wings’ previous game, a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins at JLA on Wednesday.
Helm scored his 11th goal of the season at 5:47 of the first period, giving Detroit a 1-0 lead.
Jurco added his seventh and Alfredsson his 18th as the Red Wings built a 3-0 lead before the first intermission.
Danny DeKeyser assisted on the goals by Helm and Jurco.
Jamie McBain beat Howard from the left faceoff circle, scoring a power play goal at 12:28 of the second period that cut the Wings’ lead to 3-1.
Buffalo forward Luke Adam left the game with 9:26 left in the first period, after he was struck in the face by a puck shot by McBain. Adam later returned to the contest.
Long-time NHL referee Don VanMassenhoven worked his final regular-season game. He is retiring.
VanMassenhoven received a standing ovation from the Joe Louis Arena crowd.
Helm went 17 games without a goal before scoring a hat trick at Toronto on March 29. He now has four goals in his last four games.